Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
"We might not be ready, but there isn't any time to be ready. Not anymore."
The Capital was as quiet as could be. All of Walgonia was. Even the weather had rested, for the sun to soon rise over the land. Over thousands of anarchists, thousands of soldiers, and a few hundred thousand people. A few hundred thousand Spirit Beasts. Hundreds of Spirit Biomes, towns and cities, villages and single homes. And in those cities to villages were such anarchists. Walking around the streets, the roads, in large swarms of carriages or units on foot at every corner.
"We pushed them back in the West of Walgonia, along with the West of the Capital. The North is ready to unleash across the land, the West and East ready to attack. All of us, the entire country needs every last soul, we need everyone working together, and then just maybe, do we have a real chance at rebuilding our home."
The anarchists were waking up, changing shifts, while the civilians were making tea and coffee for their morning. The Capitals night life had faded away for the day, where the roads would soon fill. But strangely, even if hundreds crowded each street, it was thousands. In the West it was more obvious, but the North, East, and South of the Capital had fallen. The rebellion under the roads, the civilians in each home or left out on the street. So many had vanished under the night. From knocks at their door, warnings of an impossible battle, and hours of spreading fear. To turn a single night into a complete escape, or a spreading web of people warning friends and family across the Capital. So when those groups of anarchists took to their corners, posts above the streets, standing on the many barricades and bridges built across the buildings, they only really saw each other.
"Our teams are ready. Or armies are ready. All of Walgonia is. The last question is if you're ready? Because if you aren't, hold your breath, and pray to the Spirits themselves you are. Because we need you. Every last drop of blood."
For every group of people there were more anarchists, the sounds of their steps or chirps of birds filled the air. Noises that used to always be drowned out by the constant commotion of the largest city in Saga. Athens' capital was a little over a fourth of the size, Ravoria's Capital a third, Valatroctius Capital half the size, and only the cities of the Southern Islands dwarfed it in size. Walgonia was the Country that Never Falls, the heart of Saga's strength, and today it would be tested. Behind the walls of the Northern Cities rested thousands of soldiers, some of Walgonia's strongest mages. Ready to push back the anarchists attacking them, ready to move into the rest of Walgonia and aid its corners. The West laid inside of broken homes, taken cities and towns, to take it all back no matter what it cost them. The East had to be ready to finally push the Sect away, amidst a take over similar to the current South of Walgonia. But the South had been fighting back, from the moment this take over began, to a few days ago with the efforts of Grays, Leo's, Lincolns, Gordons, and Jongs squads.
"We need you right now, every future in Walgonia does, because the war, this Siege, has begun."
Now, under a thick clouded sky of a new morning. A deep blue, shaded dawn, slightly lit by a dim morning sun; In the cold foggy void between night and day. From all ends of the Capital. From all ends of Walgonia. The roars began.
Gordon: "And show them why Waglonia is the country that never falls!"
The anarchists shuttered in fear across the nation. From the woods, the fields, the hills. Behind massive city and town walls. Large parties of carriages and wagons rushing into strong holds, road blocks. The trees, burned fields, piles of ash and bodies, even prisons. And in the Capital, the allies erupted with hundreds of soldiers. From the sewers, shops, rooftops, apartments, even people pretending to be civilians tearing away coats to reveal their armor. Demi-humans leapt, flew over head, while other buildings and streets were swarmed with bursts of fire. Earthquakes. Icebergs.
Lincoln: "MOOOVEE IITTT!"
In the East, Lincoln began with a single uppercut toward an eight story tower filled with anarchists. Throwing his back into it, to send out such a powerful gust of air pressure that the building instantly shattered under it. Tearing open, cracking the walls, bursting open the floors, before the entire building rushed into the sky under a tornado-like burst of air. All before Lincoln vanished toward a large swarm of building anarchists, and sent them all flying to their demise with a large kick toward the air.
Helena: "ALL OF YOU RUN! FOLLOW ME, OR GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT OF HERE AS YOU CAN!"
Helena followed around him, taking hold of the hundreds of screaming civilians with her voice. While trying to take the youngest out of the streets one by one. Dashing over anarchists, between walls to take hold of their arms, and leave lead them toward rebellion hideouts to stay safe in.
Carlos: "I got yah I got yah!"
Carlos kept anarchists off her from above with his arrows, Venyet sent out torrents of flame while invisible with her Mark, and even Joyce pushed herself to the brink of collapse after barely awakening before the battle. Tearing through the throats of anarchists trying to overwhelm the hundreds of soldiers and rebels fighting across the streets.
Gordon: "SHOW THEM YOUR FURY!"
But in the North, Gordon kept screaming toward his soldiers, even if they couldn't hear him while he stood atop the tallest tower in the North. Sending down his arrows as quickly as he could, while a pile of them sat around his feet. Using his incredible might, his incredible bow, and the seals to empower his incredible arrows, they rocketed through the air whistling and roaring before smashing into buildings like siege weapons. As they hit the swarms of grouping anarchists, the ground erupted between their broken bodies. As they hit the sides or fronts of buildings, they collapsed onto even more of the Sect. Destroying their strongholds, their units, and separating them as best he could. But further separating them was sudden walls of ice erupting between buildings from Dershia. Freezing anarchists, saving and letting civilians run for the hills in mass, while also cornering anarchists for Gordon's arrows to destroy in a single shot.
Lanner: "RUN RUN RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! OR FACE WALGONIA DAMMIT!!!"
Lanner rushed through the streets drenched in mana and a thin layer of Spirit mana, swinging his duel blades through the shoulders, then backs of a few anarchists while rushing through them. Before throwing that changed Spirit mana, momentum, and rage out as a slash to cut through a few more anarchists. But they kept coming on all sides, faster than the soldiers and rebels fighting around him. It's why he'd have to pick up the pace, and why Boid had to get a hold of himself. Filled with fear, as he desperately swung his massive arms against the Sect in a nearby alley. Holding them off so more civilians could run past him.
Boid {COME ON! THEY TRUSTED US WITH THIS! THEY TRUSTED ME OF ALL PEOPLE! DON'T CHOKE DON'T CHOKE! JUST SWING, SWIIINGGG!!!}
Yet with only four fighters, due to Yui going with Leo's group, they had the largest group of soldiers following them from the West. With Lincoln's strength, their biggest strength was the rebels in the East. Jong on the other hand had the largest group of soldiers, who had come from Greenvale through the South. Leaving Ryo with the largest group of rebels, and a large sum of soldiers who had come from around the Capital toward the West. Protecting the hundreds, soon thousands of civilians taking refugee there.
Gerald: "SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD! I CAN'T FEEL YOUR RAGE! I CAN'T HEAR YOUR SCREAMS!"
Across the wide South, Gerald rushed into the shops to take on groups of anarchists at a time. Swinging his axe through heads before getting stuck in chests. He'd get kicked back, forced to roll away from fire, but then he'd leap with his teeth clenched and his axe swinging right into a skull. Lighting his axe further aflame with his agony. But stomping, roaring, and demolishing an entire street of anarchists just outside the shop was the Strongest fighter in the ranks of the standard Knights, the simple Walter. Another living siege weapon, who crashed through swarms of anarchists before biting down on two. Slamming his tail on another five with such force he collapsed the roadblock behind them right after, and spun to knock back the circling crowd to pivot right through a stronghold of archers. Collapsing the five story tower right on top of itself, creating a large pile of debris Walter sent crashing into the anarchists like raining cannon balls with a swipe of his tail.
Tim: "HEY WATCH IT!"
Sherly: "YEAH WE GOT PEOPLE TO LOOK OUT FOR!"
Walter: "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! -
Tim: "Ugh, these knights are gonna be the death of me."
The soldiers and rebels tried their best to stay out of Walters' wrath, but the hundreds of screaming civilians were still being led to safety. Tim and Sherly were trying their best to guide the extraction team, with Tim using earth barriers or simple fire bursts to clear out the anarchists trying to stop them. And Sherly taking towards the shadows, slashing the backs and throats of anarchists cornering any rebels in the alleys to keep clearing a path. Although, they were all led by the Commander of the Knights. In his bright blue Elite gear, his flowing tall collared white cape with Walgonia's golden crest on his back, and his Guandao charged with Spirit mana. Where he'd cast a spell over rushing anarchists of all sizes and abilities, while his army stood behind him.
Jong: "EL-WIGET!"
Against the fifty or so anarchists charging at him, he used his Guandao as a magical staff. His enchantment taking in a large burst of water Spirit mana into the blindingly bright water crystal in the center, that unleashed a wave of ice all around him. Collecting, condensing in a flash, to form an intense volley of around thirty long shards of ice. Like a gatling gun of spikes, it unleashed down against the swarm of anarchists. Tearing through their bodies, weapons, magic, and if it didn't kill them, they either wished for death or were stuck frozen in ice.
Jong: "EL-WIGUST!"
And then again his Guandao swarmed with mana, so he could unleash an impressive wave of dense icy mist. A bright, deep blue, that rushed forward with a roar of pressure. Taking the anarchists through the street into its storm, throwing them back while freezing the world around them. Their skin, the air, the water inside of their body, to break apart inside the intense winds. Already having been affected by the Wiget swarm, now nothing but snow for his army to run and roar past him to run through. A sight that warmed the old man's heart to a surprising degree. Seeing his country, taking itself back, after decades and decades of war. The Demi-human War, the War Against Anarchy, the hundreds of battles and failures in between.
But the Heart of this Siege on the Capital, laid on the West. The broken, lost, taken soul of the Capital. But now it stood strong. With its street rushing with soldiers, rebels, and civilians taking refuge from the nearing districts. Magic, blades, warriors rushed and ran and screamed and cast through the streets against the toxic anarchy. Lighting up the dim skies, against the pitch black Sect. A Sect set back by so many battles they simply couldn't keep up with. Grays stretch across Walgonia, from Greenvale to Athens, then from the Town of Shells to Symbol, even across the Capital just a day ago. Then all of the thousands of smaller battles constantly happening day to day. Breaking them down, apart.
Since November, they've killed Lower Pillars across the board. Jeremiah, Carla, Conroy, Anibys, Caesar, Charlie, Togi. Potential Pillars like Red, Marker, Suzan Gol, Titan, Contis, and a handful of others. Even managing to push back Severus in the Town of Shells, Pandora in Symbol. They'd broken the Sect down pillar by pillar, inch by inch, and now the Sect would have to put absolutely everything they had left on the line to try and win this battle. But after it's over, even if they win, they'd be as broken and small as they were centuries ago.
To break the Heart of the Capital, they'd have to overwhelm Grom. Swinging his war harmer through Sect barricades, swarms, even spells, before leaping into the sky to slam them down into splatters across the ground. Boosted with a glowing swarm of mana, the Mark of the Brave, from the recently awoken Luca. Sitting safety at the largest medical center in the Capital, near the West wall. Where he'd use his Mark to strengthen all of the healers there, including Erline West, the best Healer in the country. Inside the West, JJ sprinted with fearful tears draining and dripping from his face. Desperately throwing out his whip to distract anarchists while he leads civilians toward safe zones.
JJ: "DON'T WATCH ME!!! RUN! RUN! EVERY SWING IS ANOTHER TIME WE ALMOST DIE!!!"
And the hardest point to break, was the man who rushed past anarchists trying to overwhelm JJ. The man who also broke apart a massive flaming dragon sent toward Grom by a group of flame mages. The Greatest Spirit Knight in History, the youngest God of War, Ryo Hollis himself. However he wasn't killing a single anarchist. He was simply throwing out bursts of Spirit mana to knock them out, force them to run, or solely use low-level defensive spells to protect his army. The strongest support they could ask for, even if he hadn't killed a single anarchist, and wasn't planning to throughout the entire battle.
Ryo {Please, don't be rash. I've seen that look in all of your eyes…I know what you're thinking. But you can't die for this, because it isn't the end. This is just the start of Walgonia finally taking control. I hope you know that, Gray. For all your sake.}
Momentarily atop a tower overlooking the spreading battle in the West, Ryo couldn't help but have his attention toward the center of this operation. The Heart of Anarchy. On the large hill, with trees and rushing streams coursing through the Capital, was the massive looming castle. With a wide, strong light stone base, along with many pieces and spires built across it over the years. Reaching higher, higher, and higher towards the sky in a messy forest of towers, rooms, halls, and stairs. And at the very start of this battle, before any warnings or words could be spoken, it had been attacked.
Arthur: "....do they have any idea what time it is…?"
Awoken by a sudden disturbance across the Capital, Arthur slowly forced himself out of bed. Scratching his five-o clock shadow, fixing his black and golden robe, rubbing his tired eyes, and facing a large looming window with a golden light headed right for it.
Arthur: "Oh what the hell -
After a few seconds of being awake, the large and wondrous room was instantly swarmed with waves of black flames rushing to fill all sides. Then back around, moving like a thick dense shield toward the window. To erupt open as a golden spear flew forward, coated in a layer of lighting eaten away by the flames. So Arthur could catch the spear in his hand, and face another burst of pressure smashing into his bedroom wall.
Arthur: "I figured Mount Yelira woulda finished you off, I guess I get the honor of burning Athens last son myself. But couldn't yah wait until I got to take a shower first, I'm not in my good siege clothes!"
Shelves, bookcases, carpets, tapestries all burned to ash around the cold stone room. But against the black flames, lit a golden figure twisting and rushing with lighting. Leo Valentine, without any words to give. Just a look of sheer hatred, before snapping his fingers to pull back his spear and rush forward encased in lighting. Tightly over his body like a stream of mana, digging deeper into his body like he did against Raylice. To give him the speed to force Arthur back, the strength to kick his crossed arms and shove him back with an incredible discharge of electricity, and the reaction time to guard Arthur's counter.
Arthur: "NICE HIT! BUT YOU'RE FIGHTIN TOO SERIOUSLY!"
The lighting, while powerful, only left Arthur's arm bruised and burnt. And his nerves were a bit hot, before his entire body got even hotter. Scorching all of the Spirit mana around him in a single, powerful breath, while flinging his arms back. Until he sent them forward with all he had, and like a jet, the flames roared with intense pressure. Torching his sleeves, ripping up the stone, breaking the bed open with the force, and carrying enough fire power to turn Leo to ash in an instant.
Arthur: "FOCUS FOCUS MAN! YOU WANT THIS TO LAST MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS RIGHT!?"
It was the breath of the Black Dragon, as even the flames looked like one right before it was going to bathe Leo. But right now all he could hear was Toll screaming to act, and he did. With a single leap, zipping right over the flames before kicking off the air like a pinball. Slamming all of that force, his might, and extra lighting down against Arthur. Yet Arthur pivoted back with a small flash of flames from the front of his body, sending Leo's slash deep into the stone. Where the lighting tore, ate, and erupted from like a web. Momentarily encasing Arthur with lighting that cut, burned, and began to slowly break away at the Warrior, until he let out a loud scream of agony.
Leo: "I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT THIS FIGHT TO LAST A FEW SECONDS!?"
Pain that fueled his flames, and caused his Spirit mana filled lighting to combust from the inside. Turning into a stream of flames that rushed all the way back around Leo. Freeing Arthur, sending Leo skidding back, and leaving his Dragon stone armor sizzling from Arthur's flames. His head barely protected, and now targeted, as Arthur flew forward with flames from his feet sending out rapid punches of thick dense flames.
Arthur: "YOU'RE RIGHT! I GUESS IT JUST CAN'T BE HELPED"
Dashing between each small gap in the rushing balls of flames, breaking the stone under each step, Leo moved through all of them like a leaf through the wind. Before flipping over the last one, and sending down his spear toward Arthur. Then, when Arthur blasted flames from his left hand to dodge, Leo spun the other way around to counter. Throwing out all the lighting around his body through the end of his spear to cast Arthur, freezing him under an intense surge of lighting. Before grabbing hold of his spear with all he could, to unleash his Mark out without anything held back.
Leo: "DO YOU FEEL THAT!? THAT'S JUST A FRACTION OF THE PAIN ATHENS FELT! BUT I'LL MAKE SURE YOU SUFFER JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYONE OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!"
Yet Arthur fought through it. Pushing out a dense layer of flames across his body that focused towards his hands. Sending out his black fire against Leo's constant lighting, eating and eating away at the stream. Growing stronger, faster, as Leo struggled to keep up. Until his mark screamed for it to stop, and Leo was overwhelmed. Only able to hold his hands out and force even more lighting forward as a dense shield to protect himself. Feeling the heat against his arms, through his armor, like it was gonna cook him alive inside of it in just a few moments. So he moved to the side, only for Arthur to have already begun flipping into a hefty kick.
Arthur: "THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO TRY A LOT HARDER!"
Summoning flames behind his movements, to let his leg unleash a tidal wave of fire that once again burst apart under a flash of lighting, and still sent Leo bouncing across the floor. Desperately putting out the fire burning at his armor, before throwing off his burning headband. The Walgonian band turned to ash mid-air inside the wind coming forth from the massive hole in the wall, and gave Leo a moment to feel a cool breeze. Under the heat, the rage of Arthur. And his constant boasting laugh under all of his movements, his words, his thoughts. Smiling like a child, but Leo's face fell into one of uncertainty. Not focused on Arthur, as much as the people who he tagged along with.
Peter: "You can't just leave me here! I'll definitely get picked off! Or kidnapped and used as bait or something that'll get you killed later! Think of all the problems you get from me being here!"
They'd let Leo jump off Dema on their way over the castle, before flying over to an over-handled ledge a few floors down on the other end of the castle. While Yui had leapt through a window on another side while they flew around. Leaving Peter to scream and worry with Dema while Gray, Rosemary, Soku, Julius, and Edward stared back at him. Focused, worried, just as scared as him, but with their armor ready. Their weapons are ready. And their souls dead set on bringing down the Sect, for all they'd taken.
Gray: "Look, if things get rough then fly away! But you saved our asses in Athens! I trust that you'll find your use, but you already helped get us this gear. Those communicators! As far as I'm concerned you did your part, so you choose what you do with your life."
Peter: "UGH! That's not fair! Either I'm a loser for running or I get killed!"
Edward: "Then choose, but we don't have any more time to debate."
Edward was already standing by a large set of glass doors, ready to finally enter the Capital after what felt like forever. While Julius stood ready at his hip, Soku closed in. Leaving Rosemary to hold Peter's shaking shoulder, and hold it tight.
Rosemary: "You're not some kid. You're a Red Arrow, a Hero, don't forget that."
Peter: "...SEE! Stuff like that makes it so hard to say no!!! But whatever! I'll stay, I'll stay!!! But take these too, I almost forgot to give them to you with how scary this is!"
Shuffling around in his satchel atop Dema's saddle, he threw out a spare set of Wrist Talons for Gray, Sokus folding compact Glider, and tossed Edwards Dragon stone helmet into his hands. So they'd all be ready to face whatever laid ahead inside.
Gray: "Thanks, now stay safe. And everybody else! LET'S ALL NOT DIE!"
Julius: "Not the greatest war cry."
But still, it was a war cry. And under Gray's first step forward, Edward swung his blade. Crashing through the doors, and telling every anarchist nearby they were here. Ready to unleash hell. And Edward did with the first swing, before the others finished stepping into the castle. Roaring toward an anarchist barely reacting in time, but he'd only managed to swing his blade down before Edwards' own blade crashed through him. Killing him in an instant, and forcing Gray to watch the true horrors of war. It felt sickening, making him struggle to flow mana or take in Spirit mana for the first few moments. As anarchists poured out of the rooms bit by bit, Edward took them down. Slashing towards groups, large anarchists, kicking others into walls, while Julius moved around him like a serpent. Thrusting his blade toward the faces and throats of any anarchists at Edwards back. So they could twist around like a cyclone, while Rosemary flared into the third stage and Soku began to seep mana toward her blade.
Gray {Jesus! I know Edwards is strong but he really is a monster! But he's actually doing something! So MOVE IT!}
Leaving Gray to slap his cheeks, put his mask over his face, and clench his body tightly. Flaring his mana, Spirit mana, and even the Cloak of Darkness, before extending his Wrist Talons toward a few anarchists coming up the stairs to his left. Scaring them away before he turned toward Soku, watching with a hint of fear as she rushed around the halls walls, over the ceiling, and down across the walls to pass Edward and Julius. Throwing out a blade of wind toward a surge of flames sent by a small band of mages, separating it, and sending them flying into the walls as the blade combust against the floor. All while Rosemary moved behind Gray, charging her momentum and her rage, before sending a fourth stage kick toward a group of Sect members behind them. Only to leave them crashing through the windows of the balcony they entered from, and sent Peter screaming into the sky on Dema to get somewhere safer.
Rosemary: "Sorry!"
Finally forcing himself into action, Gray tried to run past the small battle and beside Soku. Listening to the crashing a few floors higher, the sounds of thunder. While the castle shook beneath their feet, due to the Cursed Half-Elf unleashing her might toward the anarchists down below.
Gray: "These guys were quick to respond! With mages too! So they really are better than the average anarchists! We need to keep pushing toward Leo!"
Edward: "GOT IT!"
Spinning round and round to knock back the last few anarchists, he crushed the floor beneath his foot to rush through the hall. Right past Gray and into a fork in the hall, a small twist of many in the castle for a courtyard. Leading them all toward another group of anarchists in their way toward Leo, a small number compared to the mass force moving toward Yui. That was the plan of course, so Gray's unit would be as strong as they could be when they needed to face Arthur, but it wasn't going to make anything any easier.
Yui: "SPEED THIS ALONG! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SLAUGHTERING YOUR KING RIGHT NOW!"
Taking hold inside of a large cafeteria, Yui leapt and lunged through the air. Dogging bursts of flames, spikes of ice, flying anarchists, before spinning to throw out a massive and dense, purple slash of corrupted mana. Cutting through two flying Demi-humans before erupting against ten or so anarchists beneath them. Clearing open a small gap to land in, charge a pulse of mana to leap from, land against a large banner on the west wall, before leaping over them to drop and blind a small group. Kicking and jumping off another Sect member mid-air, she reached the massive roof's blindly gold chandelier. Holding on while peering down like a spider, until she rushed off to dodge a massive boulder crushing the chandelier. Sending it crashing down on the anarchists still getting the banner off them, and further erupting in an explosion of mana after another one of her slashes.
Yui {Gotta be a few hundred in this room! But this Castle could hold a few thousand at least! The Sect wouldn't put so many inside, they don't have the numbers! But what if they do!? Those damn kids could be overwhelmed and dead right now! And Leo could get himself killed every second I waste down here!}
Still running through the Castle a few floors up, Edward continued leading the way. Roaring past a burst of flames before cleaving through a tall mage, then around through another few mages surrounding him. Crouched, and surprised to feel Julius leaping off his back to spin into a back slash of a thick skinned Demi-human. Smiling brightly with blood over his face, until he quickly snapped backward to pierce another's skull with a hefty thrust. Ready to both lead the way against any anarchists coming their way, but still their left was rushing with green winds, and the other a burst of golden pressure, while Gray leapt over head. Swinging off the tall ceiling so he could kick a few anarchists into each other, with a long hall leading toward a staircase to his left, and a large set of windows going around the courtyard to his right.
Gray: "INCOMING!"
Gray leapt backward with his Cloak around him, and the others had to barely react as those same windows burst open. With arrows, balls of fire, shards of ice, and flying anarchists soaring forward with blades right against Gray.
"IT'S SO PITIFUL, TO SLAUGHTER CHILDREN!"
Larger than the others, with a voice piercing all of their eyes, flew what looked like a Potential Pillar. Holding a large mace with a flaming end, rushing through the sky with large bat-like wings, and ready to clash with Gray before Rosemary smashed through the sky. Slamming into the pillar so hard she collapsed through the anarchists who followed her, and left her in a daze long enough for one of Soku's wind blades to cut her right wing open.
Soku: "Y'know you're the most sorry one I've seen yet!"
"WHO DO YOU THINK -
Flipping around Soku was the Pink Haired prince, a snake with his blade drawn toward her throat. Yet she reacted. Jumping forward with everything she had to clash with Julius and throw him into an empty guest room. Until Rosemary once again hit her, kicking her across the face, and right into Gray's line of sight.
Gray: "HEADS UP!"
Using the Cloak like a slingshot at both ends of the long hall, Gray sent himself flying with his knee held forward. A knee that crashed against the anarchist, and sent her flying through the broken windows down toward the courtyard. Where Gray looked over in panic, before noticing the swarm of anarchists moving through the windows of the lower floors. Something they all couldn't help but be distracted by.
Rosemary: "That Demi-human woman was a Potential Pillar right? Or maybe just a stronger anarchist?"
Gray: "Even if she isn't there have gotta be a few around here. And if they're being kept safe in the Castle, they've gotta be useful for something. Or the best Lower Pillar replacements they've got."
Soku: "Isn't that Yui's job though!? We should be heading toward Leo!"
Edward: "I thought we were supposed to clear them out while Yui helped Leo? We should only fight back if it's dire! That's why we've gotta stay near him, make sure the anarchists don't make it! So we've gotta keep heading up!"
Gray: "We don't have to waste all our energy running head first! Let me focus for a second!"
Soku sent wind blades down one side of the hall with Rosemary punching down a few anarchists, and Edward fought with Julius on the other end. Leaving Gray to kneel, pull in a slow but powerful wave of Spirit mana, and try his best to see through it. Keeping his eyes closed to focus, focus on all of the spirits surrounding them. He felt the overpowering burden of the anarchists around him, above him, beneath him. Like a rushing river pushing you down, but he had to fight the current. Even out, control and maintain the Spirit mana. To understand, use, feel it instead of just piling more and more on top of itself. And then he saw it, the bright lights of so many souls around them. Some smaller, bigger, with different shades and colors depending on their affinity or race. So much information at once Gray could hardly take it in, and he couldn't hold it for more than a few seconds. Getting a flash of information impossible to completely understand, and yet, he knew to look upward.
Gray: "Arthur and Leo are above us right!? I can feel them fighting, it's all I could feel upward, and same with Yui below us! But a little higher is something strong, a mix of people, same down stairs! Probably all Potential Pillars, or stronger anarchists!! We need to get to Leo and hold the line, the longer we're separated the more anarchists are still by us!"
Edward: "GOT IT!"
Without a second thought, Edward leapt toward the roof, gripping tightly onto his blade, and roared as he smashed through the stone floor. Into another handful of anarchists rushing toward Arthur, where he landed. And was soon covered in blood, with a storm of Dragon stone crashing against everyone around him. Soku, Rosemary, Julius, and Gray all followed behind him. A burst of wind, a hefty leap, a quick set of dashes over the collapsing stone, and another slingshot move with the Cloak. Following their violent crusade into the fray. While down below the Court Yard had blown open, leaving Yui sliding across the grass using her blade to slow herself. Facing off a powerful Potential Pillar surrounded by hundreds of anarchists rushing behind her, and only sported a few bruises. Along with a new drooling cut, due to the Mark of the Potential Pillar. Allowing them to pull forth an intense whirlwind of force around her arm, building and building, before he unleashed it. A heavily stitched, scared, and broken dark skinned man. The abuse of an asylum, the tests of Walgonia's darkness, result in a pure cannon for anarchy.
"I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNLEASHED NEXT WEEK! BUT TO SHOW OFF ON THE MAIN STAGE!? TO FIGHT FOR MY KING!? I COULDN'T HAVE DREAMED FOR A BETTER LIFE!"
Rushing, twisting, swirling, building. Round and round with intense whistling winds, cutting, snapping, crunching his own arm under the might of his Mark. Before unleashing another massive wave of force, throwing back his own forces as it ripped through the ground and back through the Courtyard. Yet, exhaling and condensing her mana, her blade sparked with a bright purple hue. Cutting through the force as she remained still, firm against the earth, even if the earth and trees beside her were torn up. Forcing up the earth, bushes, stone paths, until it smashed through the back of the courtyard behind her. Leaving the area dusty, destroyed, and quickly filled with rushing anarchists. Guarding the injured Potential anarchist, while another few began setting their sights on her. Pulling forth most of the Castle's threats, and yet, there were two more running through these halls that were far worse.
Edward: "There! I saw someone!"
One of them was rushing past waves of her soldiers, desperately trying to get somewhere safe to reach out toward the strongest Pillars of anarchy. And the other was laughing and laughing under his scorched home, the spreading flames, and even when his own soldiers were bathed in his rushing flames.
Arthur: "DAMN RATS WANNA RUIN OUR FUN!"
Twitching, smoking, burning away from his own flames and Leo's lighting. Pushing him enough to leave himself open after another large engulfing attack, and getting punched right across the face. Leo's hefty fist, his dense Dragon stone, and violently surging lighting left Arthur in a complete daze. Yet, crazed and blind eyed, he used his flames to push himself forward.
Leo {COME ON! HE'S SLOWER, WEAKER THAN RAYLICE! BUT HIS TENACITY, DAMMIT HE JUST DOESN'T STOP!}
With an extreme, condensed, erupting fire from around his entire left arm. Focused like a jet toward his elbow, to fling his arm so quickly, so hard, that Leo's nose couldn't help but break under the strain. He lost his entire flow of lighting, desperately trying to unleash it. To force himself away from Arthur, before Arthur let out a thick slash of flames. Using his hand like a sword to make Leo dodge, dodge, dodge, until Leo once again closed the distance. Vanishing around Arthur in a flash of sudden pivots, leaving Arthur kicked, punched, slashed. Again and again, building small wounds, bruises, cuts, that almost left Arthur open to a massive gash.
Arthur: "THIS IS GREAT! LIKE A SUPERHERO OR SOMETHIN!"
But it only left his spear in Arthur's hand, enough to shock Arthur until he let go a moment later. So he could flare his leg with flames, and smash it against Leo's chest. Scorching Leo in a burst of fire that burned away at his entire layer of lighting, so Arthur could punch without fear. And land a harsh, powerful, crushing blow into Leo's stomach. Pushing out flames like a rocket around such fist to hit as hard as he could, before blasting Leo into the sky with the rest of his power.
Leo {I…I JUST CAN'T…!}
Eating away at even his Dragon Stone armor enough to begin warping. Spreading to dig into his skin, begin singing his hair, even stick his skin to his armor. His lighting couldn't save him from everything, it wouldn't kill Arthur no matter how hard Leo tried. So he couldn't hold back. He'd have to unleash everything, just so Walgonia could stand a chance.
"GET HIM! WE'VE GOT AN OPENING! -
Arthur: "STOP TRYING TO RUIN MY FUN!"
Giving Leo time to land, and taking a bit more of Arthur's quickly depleting stamina, the rushing anarchists trying to swarm into the destroyed room were met with Arthur's roars. His wrath. His flames. To face a wall of fire emerging from his palms, sliding across the stone floor to build and roll over top of itself. Consuming fifty or so anarchists as it spread between all of them in the room, then flooded out across the hall to continue scaring the Castle and his own soldiers. In a flash their clothes, skin, fur, armor, scales, weapons all corroded and combust under the pressure. Melting down to their flesh, their bones, their ODs, until they laid as ash blowing in the wind of the Capital.
Arthur: "You all are getting to work, huh?"
Arthur couldn't help but turn his attention out to the Capital. Over flat open grass land, down the hill the Capital sat on, was the skyline of the West, North, and East of Walgonia. A large and looming city, filled with tall towers, large and small homes, various twists and turns, parks and streams, now all smoke stacks. The skies rushed with magic, winged Demi-humans, flinging bodies. Sparks of bright Spirit mana, massive gusts of wind pressure piercing the sky from Lincoln, sudden eruptions of Strong holds collapsing from Gordon's arrows. Enough to make Arthur smile, reveal in the pain he was feeling, the glorious sight in front of him. The beautiful battle all around him. Before turning back toward Leo, his hand rushed with a rapidly condensing flame.
Leo {He…he's been holding back that much…?}
Circling, rushing, whistling, before it began to glow. The dark layer fattening itself away to reveal a pure purple plasma. His corrupted and burning Spirit mana in its purest, most dangerous form. It even dug into Arthur's already dry and cracking skin for the few seconds it bloomed. Until Arthur sent it toward Leo, blinding him from everything but the Pure Flame. Warping and distorting the air, burning and eating up all of the Spirits in the room, leaving Leo with only one option. His will, it's his own purest form. Pulling from his Mark, through his skin, his veins, his muscles. And was unleashed from the tips of his fingers. The bright blue, volatile lighting that separated Arthur's flame while traveling right through it. No matter how much of the lighting was eaten away, Leo pushed it further, and the bolt held strong.
Leo {COME ON! JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!!! THEY NEED ME TO HURT YOU! EVEN IF IT'S A SCRATCH! EVEN IF IT'S A BRUISE, I'LL SERVE MY PEOPLE! SO SCREAM! SCREAM FOR ATHENS!}
If it hadn't been weakened, it may have put Arthur on death's door. But if Arthur hadn't forced Leo to use so much effort, Leo's left hand wouldn't be unusable right now. Twitching, surging, smoking, and unresponsive to Leo's movements. However the lighting sent Arthur crashing into the back wall. Where his body, his nerves all screamed under the weight of the lighting. Spiraling, surging across him, before digging into and bursting through the stone around him in the shape of lighting bolts. Arthur choked, laughed, wheezed under the smoke. Brushing his hair, fixing his scorched robe, and stepping forward to face Leo. To break Athens son. With that ever constant grin, only growing larger as it did bloodier.
Leo: "I…I won't fall, until you're begging for it to stop."
Arthur: "Hey now don't go sounding all weird or sappy on me. I don't really know you that well, so whatever you've got going on I'm not really in on it. But if you want me to give you the fight of your life or something I'll kill you right here. But if it's just for revenge, get over yourself. Or get in line."
Around the Capital, the Sect couldn't resist being pushed away. Whether it be Ryo, rushing through the streets and alleys while washing them over with his Spirit mana. Throwing all of the anarchists in its path away. Or Gordon, collapsing anything the Sect had around the North as quickly as he could from atop a tower. Lincoln, blasting across the streets to take on what felt like endless swarms of anarchists like flies. Until he leapt into the air, and crashed down to flatten a strong hold like stepping on an ant hill. Even Jong's group was working together with so many soldiers to clear out the anarchists, heavily aided by the monster Walter demolishing entire units of anarchists like a juggernaut. And the Sect couldn't take it anymore. With signals from so many communicators, even the speaker systems around the Capital screamed warning to anarchists constantly -
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! EVERY PERSON REPRESENTING THE SECT MUST ATTACK!"
But the straw that broke the camel's back was a Lower Pillar in the Castle. Of which Grays team was hot on the tail of, trying to hold back any powerful foes on their way toward Leo. Screaming into her communicator, twisting halls and dashing into shadows, without any response at all.
"How am I supposed to -
Edward: "YOU!"
The plague doctor dressed anarchist, the one who created the zombified monsters in the Town of Shells and Symbol, stared him down with a quake of fear through her heart. Fear Edward felt, and leapt to swing his sword down to take advantage of it. But it was misleading fear, a false panic, that dropped the second Edward realized his mistake.
"Come to me, my child -
Her hand peered forward. A hand that could infect, control, and kill Edward with a single touch. Yet, with an intense rush of green winds, she was sent sliding back through the hall. Her back to a window, and a staircase to her left, while she could see more anarchists running toward from the hall on her right. However, to move forward, she'd have to face Gray, Rosemary, Soku, Edward, and Julius all sprinting toward her. So, instead of fighting, she did the only thing she thought was logical. Surviving. Taking out her communicator to fill it with mana, causing the bright red corrupted circuits to light up within the gold crest.
Gray: "STOP HER! SHE'S TELEPORTING!"
Gray leapt forward, Edward pivoted off the floor, Julius sprinted, Rosemary tightened her stages, but Soku erupted past them all. Curving around the hall with her blade taking in all of the wind on her way. Yet the communicator caused space to shift, become thicker and weaker, while the floor around her burst open. Sizzling the Sect crest around the floor with flames, until it erupted upward with a rush of corruption. Leaving the window, and the wall blowing open due to Soku's attack. While the anarchist had completely vanished.
Soku: "...I think that's gonna bite us in the ass."
And it would, immediately. With all of Walgonia, all of the Sect under attack, its Highest Pillars were desperate to act. But without any idea of where to start, what to target, until now. In another Realm completely, in a dungeon built with sharp black stone, burned a Sect crest in the floor. Engulfing with red corruption, before fading to reveal the anarchist holding her arms up in fear of Soku's attack. For a moment she took a breath of relief, but everything left her mind the second she felt him. Her Master. Drenched in the darkness, only the sound of chains following, while his snake-like eyes glowed a bright red. Staring into her soul with a piercing hatred.
Prometheus: "Why are you here child, with all of Walgonia on the line…!?"
She had to force out her words with everything she could muster. Almost puking in the process. From the sheer, insurmountable fear she felt from just being near such a being. No, a Devil.
"...It's the Capital. Lincoln, Ryo, Gordon. The Pillars of their strength. Along with those kids, and most of the major players in this battle. If we can crush them, if we can hold the Capital, we can destroy all of Walgonia's remaining strength. Then only the North will stand in our way, nothing compared to even Gordon or Ryo. Let alone Lincoln."
A long, grey, wrinkled hand reached forward. With fingers as long as most forearms, clenching tightly against the anarchist.
Prometheus: "Thank you, now, GET TO WORK -
She almost passed out from panic, but Prometheus kept her awake. Kept her alive. And caused space to once again distort around her. Ripping open due to Prometheus' corruption, and the ring hidden in the shadows on his other hand. Tearing the domain open, from hell itself, inside of Walgonia's capital. Where she'd fall right back where she'd tried to save herself from, just a floor away.
"...Now, they can do nothing to stop us…"
Walgonia was finally taking itself back. And before the first hour of the battle ended, before the sun fully rose, the Upper Pillars of anarchy had been unleashed. The ones who killed Kioshi, Musashi. Who took this Capital months ago. And they had returned, to make sure it stayed that way, until everything could be burned away like Athens. Until Saga was burned away.